Bra Shopping
Yesterday I went bra shopping. I had two goals: visit Nordstrom Rack and see if they had any bras that would work for me, and then visit Nordstrom to try on various bra styles and sizes to see what new styles would fit me.
Thus far I have only one Fantasie bra, the Savannah plunge with side support. I like this bra a lot though! It is very supportive, and quite comfortable, and actually over the last couple of weeks it has "broken in" a bit and the cups fit my breasts better than they did before. The only things I don't like about it is that the seams are pretty visible under a tshirt. Also, the straps are stretchy compared to the Empreinte bras I am used to, but I've gotten used to that now.
The Savannah doesn't come in an H cup, so I wear it in a 34GG. The band will need taking in soon, but that's ok, it was cheap (eBay) and it's a good bra.
Nordstrom Rack: had nothing. The only large cup bras they had were Wacoal. I don't like Wacoal for three reasons: the cups are stretchy (an elastic cup is imo a waste of money if you have large breasts: the elastic will deteriorate and then you have a bra that's not supportive anymore; a rigid cup is more long-lasting and supportive), the cups are round and shallow, and also, the sizing system they use seems off to me. They go with American "D, DD, DDD" sizes and though I can try on a DDD or a DDDD, it's just not as large as a European G or GG or H.)
They did have a good selection of camisoles with shelf bras, I wish now that I had picked some up. They were about $8, pretty robust fabric.
Since I was there I went next door to see what Marshall's had. They sometimes have really nice lingerie mixed in with random stuff, and occasionally I can find a large size. Again, I found lots of Wacoal, and also some Olga, but all were very elastic so I let them stay. I found a few cute lacy bras, high-quality stuff, but none in a size above a DD.
So I went to Nordstrom, which was kind of crazy. No one at Nordstrom wants you to browse. It's forbidden to stand looking at a rack of bras, evaluating how the style will work for you. I am particular about cut. I was looking at a display of Fantasie and Freya bras, and a saleswoman came up to me and asked if I needed help. I said that no, I was pretty sure of what I was looking for, and she said, "Oh, so you know your size." I sid that I did, and she looked at my chest and said, "So, you're what, about a G?" I said I am more like a GG or an H. She immediately gestured to the full-cup bras on the rack. I explained that I don't like the cup style or coverage of most full-cup bras, so we moved to the balconettes. She did help me pick some out and put me in a fitting room, but from then on we were kind of butting heads: I would leave the dressing room to pick out more bras and she would come find and scold me. All the while, salespeople were constantly asking me if I was BEING HELPED.
First things: this visit confirmed for me that, at least in Fantasie, I am definitely a 32H. 34 bands were all too large, 32GGs were too small in the cup.
What I tried on: I was specifically interested in trying on the Fantasie Florence, as I think it is a pretty bra, and it comes in a cafe latte color. I also tried on some Simone Perele bras in G cups (I had heard they had a generous fit, but in this case no) and some other Fantasie and Freya bras. I was hoping to try on a Freya Arabella, as people rave about that style, but I did not find any in stock.
One thing I noticed: none of the Fantasie bras seemed as robustly constructed as my Savannah. It is a robust bra! The Florence, though lined, seemed very flimsy in comparison. Not a lot of engineering.
The Florence: was a disappointment. The fabric seemed very thin and flimsy. The bottom of the cup is lined, but it seemed to give no support. My boobs just kind of flopped around. The upper half of the cup is lace, and it was very pretty, but very thin. The top edge of the cup was also cut kind of tight, and dug into my breasts. To be fair, I was wearing a 32GG, which was too small in the cup, but I suspect that the 32H would have been too tight along the top too, as I tried on a 34G and that cup also dug in. I also found that the straps were VERY long and VERY stretchy, which contributed to the lack of support. I would only buy this bra if I could get it very cheaply, to justify the price of altering the straps to make them less stretchy, and altering the top edge of the cup. And even then, I am just not sure it would give support in large cup sizes.
Fantasie Georgie plunge: suffered from the same flimsy construction as the Florence. I was hoping to try the Georgie with side support, but Nordstrom did not have it in stock, so I tried the plunge just to see it. This was a very non-supportive bra. Again, thin fabric, and the cut of the cups just seems to give no support at all.
Freya Faye: this bra was really large in fit. The cups were very large. I ended up in I think a 30G, but found that the cup was too small. Nordstrom told me that this bra didn't come in a GG, which I now know is not true, they just didn't stock it. This bra might have fit me in the right size, but it did seem flimsy and also, it seemed to really push the boobs apart.
Freya Jolie: oh my god. I don't know how they can call this a plunge or a balconette. Seriously, it came almost up to my neck. This was a full-coverage bra on me. The cups ran VERY large, and I had a lot of wrinkling in the top of the cup. I think also that this style is just wrong for me: it was a very round cup with a lot of side-boob action. The fabric was entirely soft and without structure; it just didn't offer any support. I would gather in and place tings properly, and they wouldn't stay put. Also, the lace felt very cheap. Maybe I need to go to a specialty dealer and get properly sized in Freya? I could not find one in Nordstrom that fit me.
Altogether I have yet to try on a Freya bra that is a really great one. I am still open to finding that, and willing to try the Arabella, but I'm definitely not going to buy one without trying one on first.
I came away pretty disheartened; I had hoped to find a good fit in the Florence, as it is very pretty and comes in a color I need (cafe latte.) However, I came home instead determined to order a Savannah in latte, as I know I like the fit and construction of that bra.
My other dilemma: there are a few very highly-reviewed Fantasie bras, at least one in a discontinued style, in my size, on eBay. I feel torn as to whether or not I should buy them. I haven't tried them, but the reviews are so good and I know my size, and they are made of simplex. Hmmmm.
Thus far I have only one Fantasie bra, the Savannah plunge with side support. I like this bra a lot though! It is very supportive, and quite comfortable, and actually over the last couple of weeks it has "broken in" a bit and the cups fit my breasts better than they did before. The only things I don't like about it is that the seams are pretty visible under a tshirt. Also, the straps are stretchy compared to the Empreinte bras I am used to, but I've gotten used to that now.
The Savannah doesn't come in an H cup, so I wear it in a 34GG. The band will need taking in soon, but that's ok, it was cheap (eBay) and it's a good bra.
Nordstrom Rack: had nothing. The only large cup bras they had were Wacoal. I don't like Wacoal for three reasons: the cups are stretchy (an elastic cup is imo a waste of money if you have large breasts: the elastic will deteriorate and then you have a bra that's not supportive anymore; a rigid cup is more long-lasting and supportive), the cups are round and shallow, and also, the sizing system they use seems off to me. They go with American "D, DD, DDD" sizes and though I can try on a DDD or a DDDD, it's just not as large as a European G or GG or H.)
They did have a good selection of camisoles with shelf bras, I wish now that I had picked some up. They were about $8, pretty robust fabric.
Since I was there I went next door to see what Marshall's had. They sometimes have really nice lingerie mixed in with random stuff, and occasionally I can find a large size. Again, I found lots of Wacoal, and also some Olga, but all were very elastic so I let them stay. I found a few cute lacy bras, high-quality stuff, but none in a size above a DD.
So I went to Nordstrom, which was kind of crazy. No one at Nordstrom wants you to browse. It's forbidden to stand looking at a rack of bras, evaluating how the style will work for you. I am particular about cut. I was looking at a display of Fantasie and Freya bras, and a saleswoman came up to me and asked if I needed help. I said that no, I was pretty sure of what I was looking for, and she said, "Oh, so you know your size." I sid that I did, and she looked at my chest and said, "So, you're what, about a G?" I said I am more like a GG or an H. She immediately gestured to the full-cup bras on the rack. I explained that I don't like the cup style or coverage of most full-cup bras, so we moved to the balconettes. She did help me pick some out and put me in a fitting room, but from then on we were kind of butting heads: I would leave the dressing room to pick out more bras and she would come find and scold me. All the while, salespeople were constantly asking me if I was BEING HELPED.
First things: this visit confirmed for me that, at least in Fantasie, I am definitely a 32H. 34 bands were all too large, 32GGs were too small in the cup.
What I tried on: I was specifically interested in trying on the Fantasie Florence, as I think it is a pretty bra, and it comes in a cafe latte color. I also tried on some Simone Perele bras in G cups (I had heard they had a generous fit, but in this case no) and some other Fantasie and Freya bras. I was hoping to try on a Freya Arabella, as people rave about that style, but I did not find any in stock.
One thing I noticed: none of the Fantasie bras seemed as robustly constructed as my Savannah. It is a robust bra! The Florence, though lined, seemed very flimsy in comparison. Not a lot of engineering.
The Florence: was a disappointment. The fabric seemed very thin and flimsy. The bottom of the cup is lined, but it seemed to give no support. My boobs just kind of flopped around. The upper half of the cup is lace, and it was very pretty, but very thin. The top edge of the cup was also cut kind of tight, and dug into my breasts. To be fair, I was wearing a 32GG, which was too small in the cup, but I suspect that the 32H would have been too tight along the top too, as I tried on a 34G and that cup also dug in. I also found that the straps were VERY long and VERY stretchy, which contributed to the lack of support. I would only buy this bra if I could get it very cheaply, to justify the price of altering the straps to make them less stretchy, and altering the top edge of the cup. And even then, I am just not sure it would give support in large cup sizes.
Fantasie Georgie plunge: suffered from the same flimsy construction as the Florence. I was hoping to try the Georgie with side support, but Nordstrom did not have it in stock, so I tried the plunge just to see it. This was a very non-supportive bra. Again, thin fabric, and the cut of the cups just seems to give no support at all.
Freya Faye: this bra was really large in fit. The cups were very large. I ended up in I think a 30G, but found that the cup was too small. Nordstrom told me that this bra didn't come in a GG, which I now know is not true, they just didn't stock it. This bra might have fit me in the right size, but it did seem flimsy and also, it seemed to really push the boobs apart.
Freya Jolie: oh my god. I don't know how they can call this a plunge or a balconette. Seriously, it came almost up to my neck. This was a full-coverage bra on me. The cups ran VERY large, and I had a lot of wrinkling in the top of the cup. I think also that this style is just wrong for me: it was a very round cup with a lot of side-boob action. The fabric was entirely soft and without structure; it just didn't offer any support. I would gather in and place tings properly, and they wouldn't stay put. Also, the lace felt very cheap. Maybe I need to go to a specialty dealer and get properly sized in Freya? I could not find one in Nordstrom that fit me.
Altogether I have yet to try on a Freya bra that is a really great one. I am still open to finding that, and willing to try the Arabella, but I'm definitely not going to buy one without trying one on first.
I came away pretty disheartened; I had hoped to find a good fit in the Florence, as it is very pretty and comes in a color I need (cafe latte.) However, I came home instead determined to order a Savannah in latte, as I know I like the fit and construction of that bra.
My other dilemma: there are a few very highly-reviewed Fantasie bras, at least one in a discontinued style, in my size, on eBay. I feel torn as to whether or not I should buy them. I haven't tried them, but the reviews are so good and I know my size, and they are made of simplex. Hmmmm.